French Immersion Program Start Moved from Junior to Senior Kindergarten

December 06, 2017

French Immersion Program Start Moved from Junior to Senior Kindergarten; Space, Staff and Desire to Maintain High Level of Quality All Influenced Decision

The Board of Trustees for the London District Catholic School Board (LDCSB) passed a motion Monday evening to eliminate Junior Kindergarten entry when and where necessary at French Immersion elementary schools at capacity effective September 2018.

French Immersion is currently offered at four elementary schools in the board: St. John’s and St. Anthony’s in London; St. Anne’s in St Thomas and Holy Family in Woodstock. Three of the four schools are operating above physical capacity and the two London schools began to cap registrations in the summer of 2017. In addition, a province-wide shortage of qualified French-speaking teachers has placed severe strain on the French Immersion program with regards to staffing capacity.

As a result, the French Immersion program will begin with Senior Kindergarten in all four LDCSB French Immersion schools as of September 2018.

“The popularity of French Immersion forced us to find a way that would address our physical and staffing capacities while maintaining the high quality of the program our families expect,” said Vince Romeo, Superintendent of Education. “This decision also aligns the start of our French Immersion program with most of the other school boards in the province.”

Parents of children entering Junior Kindergarten will register at their home school and may then choose to enroll in the French Immersion program at one of the four schools for Senior Kindergarten.